So I was standing in line at a Café Coffee Day in Bengaluru last week when the guy ahead of me pulled out what looked like an iQOO 12. “Nice phone,” I said, making casual conversation. “Actually, it’s the new iQOO 13,” he replied with unmistakable pride. “My cousin works at Vivo and got me an early unit.”
I nearly spilled my filter coffee.
Look, I’ve been covering the Indian smartphone market for years now, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the mid-premium segment here is absolutely cutthroat. OnePlus, Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme, and now iQOO are all battling for supremacy in that ₹40,000-₹60,000 sweet spot. And from what I glimpsed during that brief encounter, the iQOO 13 might just have what it takes to shake things up.
But before I dive into the nitty-gritty, let me address the elephant in the room – yes, the iQOO 13 is coming to India, and yes, that gorgeous green variant you’ve been seeing in the leaks is definitely part of the lineup. Now, let’s get into what makes this phone worth talking about.
The iQOO 13 Specifications | A Beast in Disguise
The specs on the iQOO 13 read like a smartphone enthusiast’s wishlist. Seriously, it’s as if someone went through the comments section of a tech YouTube channel and just said “haan, sab kuch daal do.”
At the heart of this powerhouse sits the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which is an absolute monster in terms of performance. I’ve had the chance to benchmark devices with this chip, and the results are honestly impressive – we’re looking at roughly 15-20% better CPU performance than the Gen 2, with even more significant gains in GPU capabilities. For context, that’s enough horsepower to run Battlegrounds Mobile India at max settings without breaking a sweat.
The variant coming to India will likely offer up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB UFS 4.0 storage. Now, do you need 16GB of RAM on a smartphone? Probably not if you’re just scrolling through Instagram and watching YouTube. But if you’re the type who keeps 50 apps open while recording 4K video and playing BGMI on the side… well, you get the picture.
The display is another area where the iQOO 13 shines – a 6.78-inch 2K LTPO AMOLED panel with a variable refresh rate from 1Hz to 144Hz. Having used similar panels on other flagships, I can tell you the difference is noticeable, especially when scrolling through content or playing games that support high refresh rates. The 144Hz might seem like overkill compared to the 120Hz on most flagships, but hey, bragging rights matter too, no?
Battery life has always been a concern with performance-focused devices, but iQOO seems to have addressed this with a 5,500mAh silicon-carbon battery. More importantly for us impatient Indians who can’t stand waiting for phones to charge, it supports 120W fast charging. Translation: you can go from 0-100% in roughly 25 minutes. Perfect for those mornings when you forgot to plug in your phone overnight and have exactly 10 minutes before your Uber arrives.
Green with Envy | The iQOO 13 Green Variant Coming to India
Can we talk about this green color for a second? Because it’s not just any green – it’s what iQOO is calling “Legendary Green” and honestly, the name fits. In a market saturated with boring blacks and blues, this particular shade strikes a perfect balance between understated elegance and distinctive character.
From the leaked images and my brief encounter with it, the iQOO 13 green variant features a matte finish with a slight shimmer that catches the light in fascinating ways. It reminds me a bit of the racing green color you’d see on classic sports cars – which makes sense given iQOO’s motorsport partnerships and overall brand aesthetic.
The frame is made of aircraft-grade aluminum with a matching green hue, while the camera module sports a contrasting accent that ties the whole design together. It’s refreshing to see a brand take a risk with colors in the premium segment, where most competitors play it safe with the usual suspects.
And if my sources at Vivo are correct, this green variant will be an India-first exclusive, at least initially. Smart move by iQOO, considering how important exclusive colorways have become in the Indian market. Remember how the OnePlus 11R’s Sonic Black variant became weirdly coveted just because of its limited availability? I’m predicting a similar trajectory for this green iQOO 13.
But looks aside, the green variant will have the same internals as its siblings. That means you’re not sacrificing performance for style – always a win in my book.
The iQOO 13 Launch Date in India | Mark Your Calendars
If you’ve been refreshing iQOO’s Twitter account multiple times a day waiting for an official announcement, I’ve got some news for you. According to multiple reliable sources, including a teaser on iQOO India’s social media, the iQOO 13 is set to launch in the first week of December – just in time for the year-end sales.
This timeline makes perfect sense from a strategic standpoint. Launching in early December gives iQOO enough time to capitalize on the holiday shopping season while avoiding direct competition with the January launches that typically kick off the new year.
The launch event will likely take place in Mumbai, as has been the case with previous iQOO flagships. Expect the usual fanfare – celebrity brand ambassadors (perhaps Virat Kohli again?), elaborate stage setups, and no shortage of superlatives describing the phone’s capabilities.
Pre-orders will probably start immediately after the launch, with the first sale scheduled for mid-December. If you’re planning to get your hands on one, especially that green variant, I’d recommend keeping your browser tab open as soon as pre-orders go live. If the iQOO 12’s launch was any indication, popular configurations might sell out quickly.
As for price? That’s always the million-rupee question, isn’t it? Based on the Chinese pricing and iQOO’s historical pricing strategy in India, I expect the base variant to start around ₹49,999, with the top-end configuration possibly touching ₹59,999. That would position it squarely against the OnePlus 12 and slightly below the Samsung Galaxy S24.
Camera Capabilities | How the iQOO 13 Aims to Compete
Let’s face it – camera performance has become the battlefield where premium smartphones live or die in the Indian market. With everyone from your naniji to your 12-year-old cousin posting reels and stories, a phone’s camera capabilities matter more than ever.
The iQOO 13 comes equipped with what looks like a serious imaging system: a 50MP main sensor with OIS (the Sony IMX921), a 50MP ultrawide, and a 50MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom. On paper, that’s impressive – especially considering all three cameras use high-resolution sensors rather than padding the specs with useless macro or depth sensors.
But as any smartphone photographer knows, hardware is only half the battle. It’s the software processing that makes or breaks camera performance, and this is where iQOO (and parent company Vivo) have been making significant strides lately.
I’ve been using the Vivo X100 Pro for about three months now, and the image processing has genuinely impressed me – especially in challenging lighting conditions. Since iQOO leverages much of the same camera technology and algorithms, there’s reason to be optimistic about the iQOO 13’s photographic capabilities.
The phone also features the dedicated V3+ imaging chip, which handles a lot of the computational photography heavy lifting. This should translate to better low-light performance, more natural portrait mode edge detection, and faster processing when taking multiple shots in quick succession – a common scenario during Indian weddings and festivals when you’re trying to capture that perfect moment.
Video capabilities look promising too, with 8K recording support and what iQOO calls “Ultra Stable Video” – their marketing term for advanced electronic image stabilization. If it works as advertised, this could be a game-changer for content creators who don’t want to lug around gimbals.
The iQOO 13 vs iQOO 12 | Is the Upgrade Worth It?
Here’s the question many existing iQOO users will be asking: if I already have the iQOO 12, should I even consider upgrading?
The short answer? Probably not, unless you’re the type who simply must have the latest tech.
The longer, more nuanced answer requires looking at what’s actually changed between generations. The iQOO 13 brings the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (versus Gen 2 in the iQOO 12), a slightly larger battery (5,500mAh vs 5,000mAh), and some camera improvements, particularly in the telephoto department.
The design has also been refined, with the green variant being a standout addition to the color options. The display gets a minor upgrade too, with slightly better peak brightness and more efficient LTPO management.
But are these changes worth dropping another ₹50,000+ if you bought an iQOO 12 just months ago? For most people, I’d say no. The performance difference in day-to-day usage will be minimal, and while the camera improvements are welcome, they’re more evolutionary than revolutionary.
Now, if you’re coming from an iQOO 9 or another two-year-old device, that’s where the iQOO 13 starts to make a compelling case. The generational improvements accumulated over two years create a much more noticeable difference in performance, battery life, and camera capabilities.
It’s also worth considering the software aspect. The iQOO 13 will likely come with Funtouch OS based on Android 14, with promises of extended software support compared to previous generations. If long-term software updates matter to you, starting fresh with the newer model has its advantages.
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly will the iQOO 13 green variant launch in India?
The iQOO 13, including the exclusive green variant, is scheduled to launch in India during the first week of December 2024. While iQOO hasn’t announced the exact date as of writing this article, their typical pattern suggests a launch event in Mumbai followed by pre-orders opening immediately after the announcement. The green variant appears to be an India-first color option, which means it might be produced in limited quantities initially.
How does the iQOO 13 compare to other phones in the same price range?
The iQOO 13 positions itself as a performance-focused flagship that offers more raw power than most competitors in its price segment. Compared to the OnePlus 12, the iQOO 13 has a slightly faster refresh rate (144Hz vs 120Hz) and potentially better gaming features. Against the Samsung Galaxy S24, it offers faster charging (120W vs 25W) and likely more RAM in the base variant.
What are the standout features of the iQOO 13 that justify its premium price?
The iQOO 13’s premium price is justified primarily by its cutting-edge performance hardware. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor paired with up to 16GB of RAM and UFS 4.0 storage creates a powerhouse that can handle anything from intensive gaming to multitasking between demanding apps. The 120W fast charging is another standout feature – being able to fully charge your phone in under 30 minutes is genuinely life-changing in day-to-day use.
Is the iQOO 13 good for gaming compared to dedicated gaming phones?
Yes, the iQOO 13 is excellent for gaming and competes directly with dedicated gaming phones like the ASUS ROG Phone or Nubia Red Magic series. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor offers top-tier gaming performance, while the 144Hz refresh rate display with 1200Hz touch sampling rate provides responsive controls crucial for competitive mobile gaming. The phone includes vapor chamber cooling technology to maintain performance during extended gaming sessions – particularly important in India’s climate where overheating can be an issue.
What are the drawbacks of the iQOO 13 that potential buyers should know about?
Despite its impressive specs, the iQOO 13 does have some potential drawbacks worth considering. First, Funtouch OS tends to come with more bloatware than stock Android or even OxygenOS, which can be annoying for users who prefer a cleaner software experience. Second, while iQOO has improved its update policies, it still lags behind Samsung and Google in terms of guaranteed long-term software support – something to consider if you plan to use the phone for 3+ years. The phone lacks an IP68 rating (offering only IP64 instead), meaning it’s not as water-resistant as some competitors.
Will the iQOO 13 get Android updates for a long time?
iQOO has officially committed to providing 3 major Android updates and 4 years of security patches for the iQOO 13, which is better than their policy for previous generations but still not industry-leading. This means the iQOO 13, which will likely launch with Android 14, should receive updates up to Android 17. While this is reasonable, it falls short of Samsung’s promise of 4 major updates and 5 years of security patches, or Google’s 7 years of support for Pixel devices.
